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enWenger: Japanese football is world-classArsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes that the quality of Japanese football is at a "world-class level".http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/wenger-japanese-football-world-class
Wenger is currently in the country with his side as part of their pre-season preparations, with the Frenchman having previously managed Nagoya Grampus.
The two sides met in a friendly on Tuesday, with Arsenal running out 3-1 winners, but Wenger believes that football in the country has improved significantly over recent years.
Japanese football has moved up since I (was) here in 95/96, he said. Since, Japan has been at a few World Cups and the last one in South Africa they were in a very difficult group and they came out of it.
They are already now qualified for the World Cup in Brazil, so overall the football there has moved up because of the quality of the work theyve made with the youths.
There are still some weaknesses they have to work on, but thats mainly in the efficiency of what they do.
But overall, technically, Japanese football is at a world-class level now. You can see that in every international game.
Japan international Ryo Miyaichi scored for Arsenal in their latest warm-up friendly ahead of the new Premier League season and Wenger said the 20-year-old former Bolton and Feyenoord loanee has impressed in training.
I personally was impressed by his (Miyaichis) pace, his movement off the ball, his desire to go forward and take on defenders, and as well by his fantastic attitude, Wenger said.
I was convinced in the first session that Ryo deserved a chance. He has been a bit unlucky because he is not completely 100 per cent fit yet because he has been out with a long injury.
He had a little knock back at the start of the training but now it will take two or three weeks maximum to get back to his best physically because he has done great work to prepare.
Arsenals next fixture of their tour is on Friday, when Wengers men take on Urawa Red Diamonds.
news_articleTue, 23 Jul 2013 21:08:42 +0000199 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comPre-Season Friendly: Nagoya Grampus 1 Arsenal 3Arsenal cruised to the third victory of their pre-season tour with a 3-1 win over Nagoya Grampus at Toyota Stadium on Monday.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/pre-season-friendly-nagoya-grampus-1-arsenal-3
Olivier Giroud continued his fine pre-season form with an early goal, before Ryo Miyaichi delighted the home fans with a penalty and Theo Walcott netted a third.
However, Nagoya did pose a challenge to the Premier League outfit and Kisho Yano earned his team a goal with a towering header after 72 minutes.
Arsene Wenger fielded a strong Arsenal side for the match, including first-team stars such as Giroud, Walcott and Mikel Arteta, while Bacary Sagna partnered Per Mertesacker in the heart of defence.
And they made a superb start as an unmarked Giroud planted a firm header home from Tomas Rosickys cross.
The goal marked the sixth in pre-season for the Frenchman, as he looks to convince Wenger of his talents amid rumours that the London club are targeting strikers.
Arsenals advantage was then doubled before half-time came as Giroud won a penalty which 20-year-old Miyaichi kept his composure to fire into the top corner, to the loud acclaim of the Japanese support.
The break brought a number of changes and it paid off for the visitors as Walcott scored a close-range effort after a brilliant reverse pass from exciting 16-year-old Gedion Zelalem.
The last goal of the game saw the home side grab a consolation with 18 minutes to go through 29-year-old Yano, who nodded in from a corner.
Arsenal will face Urawa Red Diamonds on Friday before returning home to host the Emirates Cup which also includes Napoli and Galatasaray.
news_articleMon, 22 Jul 2013 13:49:03 +0000143 at http://www.fourfourtwo.com